Air Lift 1000 spring assist for TV opinions

[64osby]

My current TV and daily driver, 1992 Capice Wagon, gets a little saggy in the drawers when towing. I have already installed adjustable air shocks and was looking to firm it up a little more. That and my project boat will weigh about 3000# loaded, up 1000# from my current.

I was looking at getting an early 90's Suburban, but with the cost of gas these days I think I will stick with what I have. I get 22 - 24 Highway. Caprice has the 350/5.7 TBI and is rated to tow 5000#.

I was searching around and saw these

http://shop.airliftcompany.com/product/294020/60755/_/Air_Lift_1000;_Coil_Spring

Anyone one ever used these, or simular type spring assist product.

If this works I might look at getting a gas sipper or old Mercedes diesel with the $ saved from not buying the Suburban. Gas/fuel is only going up.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Air Lift 1000 spring assist for TV opinions

I tow with a 1996 Roadmaster, which is the same vehicle as your Caprice with a few extra buttons on it. I use the standard air shocks rigged so I can adjust the air from a valve behind the license plate. Around town I run about 90PSI, but for towing I run about 115PSI. My car has towing package, 5.7V8, heavy springs, trans. cooler, positraction, works fine for towing. My son put those air springs on his Montero SUV and it really picked it up good, don't take near as much PSI in those either. If you're gonna tow a lot then invest in a transmission cooler, they can add one right on easily. Good Luck!

 

[64osby]

Re: Air Lift 1000 spring assist for TV opinions

my old TV was a 1993 Caprice wagon, Ins. Co totaled it after the 2nd deer and paying out $5000. It still drove great, but then an oak tree fell on it and really totaled it. Now its my parts car.

I know my 93 had the tow package so I will be moving some parts over.

My son put those air springs on his Montero SUV and it really picked it up good, don't take near as much PSI in those either.

Great, thanks for the input. It states max 35# pressure. I know I put 120# in my air shocks and it helps. I've also read the shock mounts are not built for supporting all the weight.

 

[Mykroft]

Re: Air Lift 1000 spring assist for TV opinions

I was searching around and saw these

http://shop.airliftcompany.com/product/294020/60755/_/Air_Lift_1000;_Coil_Spring

Anyone one ever used these, or simular type spring assist product.

I installed these along with the optional wireless pump/controller package and these were great for towing my Tahoe boat. The install can be tricky if you're not very handy and in some vehicles you have to remove the rear springs to get the airbag in properly and the air hose routed properly.

Once installed they instantly added tons of lift to my 2002 Nissan Pathfinder and leveled out the ride when towing. The wireless compressor is a great addition so that you can control the air pressure in the bags, either as a group or individually depending on how you install it while you're driving. The wireless remote clips to your visor and shows you a readout of the air pressure.

Max pressure is 35psi, but the compressor can work with a wide range of airbags and supports up to 100psi. My favorite part about this setup was that I could program in two PSI settings on the wireless remote so I had one for normal driving and one for towing. When I backed up to my boat and hooked it up, I just hit a single button and it inflated up to my towing pressure automatically and keeps it there. (If you lose pressure, the pump engages automatically, and if it becomes over inflated it lets air out.)

Great product and I highly recommend it!

 

[Lou C]

Re: Air Lift 1000 spring assist for TV opinions

They do work as advertised, I have em in my 98 Jeep and am going to add em to my 07 this summer as it will be towing the boat more than the 98. Cheap and very effective upgrade. I did remove the springs on the 98 to do the install and it was easy. Spray the bags with silicone spray and they slid in and then run the lines through the spring seat as per the instructions.

 

[64osby]

Re: Air Lift 1000 spring assist for TV opinions

MyKroft and Lou c - Sounds like two thumbs up. I don't think I will do the wireless and pump on my TV, at least at the start.

I have added air shocks and replaced springs before. I watched a quick video and this looks to be pretty straight forward.

Looks like I'm sticking with the Caprice and upgrading.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Air Lift 1000 spring assist for TV opinions

View attachment 83907I think that the air bags are better than air shocks, because if you think about it, shock mounts are not meant to support weight like a spring mount is. The area of the size of the inside of the bag, holds far more air than any air shock could. I didn't add the compressor, I just keep a tire inflator in the Jeep and when not towing, I keep 5 psi in them (as the instructions tell you to) and then when towing, I used 25 lbs and that was usually enough to level it out nicely. On my old 98 the combination of Bilstein high pressure monotube shocks and the Air Lift bags was a great combo for towing.

In these pix if you look closely you can see the bag inside the coil spring, this is my old 98 Grand Cheorkee...

 

[Mykroft]

Re: Air Lift 1000 spring assist for TV opinions

MyKroft and Lou c - Sounds like two thumbs up. I don't think I will do the wireless and pump on my TV, at least at the start.

I have added air shocks and replaced springs before. I watched a quick video and this looks to be pretty straight forward.

Looks like I'm sticking with the Caprice and upgrading.

Yeah, I should have said that I didn't have the compressor initially. It's still good without it but it adds some nice features once you do add it.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Air Lift 1000 spring assist for TV opinions

At the moment I'm like less than a mile from Air lift headquarters...

They work great. I've used my '94 Century wagon as a work vehicle and they'll keep it from sagging. I needs add them to my Lesabre still. Easy to install, just lift the rear, roll them up, stick them inside the springs, and run the lines so they won't get pinched.

 

[64osby]

Re: Air Lift 1000 spring assist for TV opinions

Well a year and a half after looking at the Air Lift product I finally installed it on my Caprice.

Took the boat to a launch about 15 miles away.
Man, what a difference! These air bags work great.

They eliminated most to the bob and weave that the old wagon had. It was much easier driving down the rolling, curvy and bumpy country roads.

Next week we are going up north to for a week. Can't wait to try out the new bags on a 4 hour trip.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Air Lift 1000 spring assist for TV opinions

you mean 2 1/2 years right?

makes you wonder why you waited aye?

 

[64osby]

Re: Air Lift 1000 spring assist for TV opinions

you mean 2 1/2 years right?

makes you wonder why you waited aye?

Time Flys.:embarassed:

 

[64osby]

Re: Air Lift 1000 spring assist for TV opinions

A couple weeks ago the air bags developed a leak. Determined that one bag wore where the spring passed over the center seam.

Called Air lift on a Friday, on Monday the brown truck delivered a replacement bag. They were great on the phone and didn't cost me a penny.

Took a little over an hour to refit the bag. Happy to back in action with the Air Lifts. :thumb::thumb:

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Air Lift 1000 spring assist for TV opinions

make sure the springs aren't rusty where the bags touch...

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Air Lift 1000 spring assist for TV opinions

It's interesting how those bags survive...

 

[Lou C]

Re: Air Lift 1000 spring assist for TV opinions

My old 98 Jeep still has the set I put on at least 7 years ago, no leaks...

 

[64osby]

Re: Air Lift 1000 spring assist for TV opinions

Here's a pic of the bad air bag after removal. The spot that wore is on the LH side.

I'm trying to figure out how or why it is bulging on one side only. That is also the side that wore through. Is it possible to install these wrong?

There is some patch on it as an experiment, trying to seal the leak.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Air Lift 1000 spring assist for TV opinions

It looks like a seam gave out. It may have been a bad bag.

 

[ssobol]

Re: Air Lift 1000 spring assist for TV opinions

I put these in my Sienna. They really help to hold up the back end when the trailer is attached. There is also less feedback from the trailer motion into the van (can't feel the trailer bounces as much). I keep the bags at 35psi all the time. They help a lot when carting stuff around in the van too.

Took an hour or two to put in the set. I installed them on a fairly cool day (~50 deg F). I ended up soaking the bags in hot water for awhile to make them more flexible when slipping them into the springs.